Suffocating the live bugs on a person's head is just the start of getting rid of lice. While oils may be efficient at killing the bugs, they will not affect the eggs, and in moderate to severe infestations, there may be hundreds of eggs remaining in the hair that must come out.

Can you drown out lice?

In order to get rid of lice for good, it is imperative to get rid of the nits, or they will hatch and the lice will come back. So, can you drown lice in water or oil and get rid of an infestation? Not completely. In order to eradicate the case, you need to do a complete treatment that addresses bugs and eggs.

Can head lice be smothered?

Smothering agents.

Some people try to suffocate and kill lice by putting large amounts of a greasy substance on your scalp, covering with a shower cap, and leaving it on while you sleep. You can try petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, or olive oil. But these may not work well.